The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-04-14
Ghe ;GnftdkiQelree1s,
wuEELrNG, W. VA, APRIL ii. 1887.
TT, Anuua, National Drink Dili.

In his quarterly report just published
tho Chief OF the Bureau Of Statistics do
votes considerable spaceto the consump.
ton and cost Of alcoholic beverages In this
country. An interesting table showing
the consumption per capita OF population
since 1910 reveals a steady growth and q
very largo increase. In 1910 the consump-
ton was 4 II gallons, and by 1886 thia had
risen to 1902 gallo2g-an increase due to
the growing popularity Of malt beverages.
In 1910 the average American used 9 81
gallons OF diAtillcd spirits, and now he gets
along with half that quantity, In lS40he
drank fourth OF gallon Of wine, and
strangely enough no drinks but third Of
gallon now. But IL Is in the matter OF
his malt beveragea that be elbows tho
power to expand. From 1.35 gallons In
1910 he has como to take 11.lsgallons in
those days.
The increased capacity 10 in somo degree
to DO attributed to q change in native
tastc, and also to the swelling tide Of i'm.
migration. Public speakers and writers
are wont to give tho credit Of tho mall
liquor taote to tho iniuaion OF the German
strain in the native stock. Something
must be allowed to tho British Sub
jects who come over, Tor in their OWE
country, 10 appears by their own Statistics
thoy drink moro malt liquors per capita
than the Germans. The subject OF Hcl
Majesty takes his thirty.three gallons Of
malt drink in year, while the subject q
the Ksiper gcts along on twenty.iour.
AT the request Of tho Bureau Of Staff.
Mr.. L. N. Barrett, editor OF tho Mew YORK.
Grocer, makes al estiraato OF tho con.
sumption and cost Of tho spirits, wines
aud malt liquors consumed annus!ly in
tho United Statee, and this eetimate has
tho high endorsement of Mr.. Edward at.
kinaon. The estimate in gross 10 seven
hundred millions OF dollars for 1856. OF
this amount three hundred and twenty
three millions were for distilled spirits
and throe hundred and twenty millions
for malt liquors. The liquor.consuming
population is found to be, in round mum.
bars, fifteen millions, or one person in
four OF the whole number in The country.
II is, Of course, largely centercl in the
cities, where %! per csnt OF the populs-
ton is to DO found.
The average coat to those who drink ia
$40 0Oa year. The grand total spent tor
living is estimated at from $40 600 nil!ioDa
OF dollars to ll,72O mi'liona, end this gives
tho ratio Of one dollar apent ior liquor TO
sl2 So to SIS q spent Tor other things en-
tsring into tho living account. II these
figures DO approximately correct we. may
compromise between the extremes and
place tho liquor expenditure at one dollar
in fifteen. Tho method by which thiH re-
sult is REACHED is very interesting, but
there is not room to follow it in detail in
this article. . --
Both the gro7s expenditure and the Ia.
ito are sufficiently large, but they lsll be.
low aomo CT the estimates mado for plat
form purposes. The truth, whatever it ia,
ought to be told: but the drinking habits
OF the American people should not be ex-
aggerated to swell the chapter OF horrora.
Moreover, every Misrepresentation hurts
the cause of Temperance, for it is certain
to be challenged, to the dincrsdit OF the
cause.